Catamenial bandage



Dec. 17, 1935. B.- ANDERSON 2,024,134

CATAMENIAL BANDAGE Filed Aug. 18, 1934 INVENTOR.

5555 ANDERSON BY Q ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 17, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

My invention relates to improvements in catamenial bandages.

The object of my invention is to provide an elastic means for a portion of each end of the 5 bandage body to avoid displacement of the intermediate portion by longitudinal movement.

A further object of my invention is to provide a reinforcing means to secure the inner ends of the elastic strands and stitched thereto in such 10 a way as to provide a pocket for each end of an absorbent pad insertable therein as securing means for the pad within the body by which means the said pad is easily placed and removed.

A still further object of my invention is to pro- 1,5 Vide a simple and efficient means to secure each end of the said catamenial bandage to a belt, corslet or other wearing apparel available and within reach of the end portion of the said bandage, the said means consisting of a tape having 20 hooks secured thereto to engage with eyes oppropriately secured to the outer ends of the elastic portions, the said tape to be stitched to the said available means and the said tape being a part of the bandage completing it as an 25 article of manufacture.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a flap for each side of the body portion that is gored to form the same concavo convex.

These and other objects will hereinafter be 30 more fully explained, reference being had to the drawing forming a part of this specification and in which like characters will apply to like parts in the different views.

Referring to the drawing:-

35 Fig. 1 is a plan view of the device spread out.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device in an assumed position when worn and having certain modification.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken 40 on line 3-3 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary edge view of an end portion of the body.

Fig. 5- is a fragmentary view showing a modification for the flaps.

45 The device herein disclosed consists of a body portion I, the intermediate edge portions of which are curved inward towards each other to conform to the legs of the wearer; stitched to each edge or curved portion is a flap 2 extend- 50 ing from the body in opposite directions when laid flat but adapted to drop downward to near parallelism to engage snugly on each leg respectively, this arrangement will avoid chaiiing as friction will be imposed on the adjacent sides of 55 the flaps, it being understood that each flap will retain its position by clinging to the wearer.

I am aware however that flaps have been employed heretofore in the manufacture of catamenial bandages but not improved as hereinafter described, arranged at each end portion of the body is a plurality of elastic strands 3 and the said end portions engaged have a fullness to expand and contract with the elastic strands, the fullness being shown by transverse shade lines B, the said strands being concealed between the plies of the body as shown in Fig. 4 and secured at the outer end by stitching shown by dotted line C in said figure, the other end of the said elastic strands secured in like manner at which point a pocket 4 is stitched there- 10 with to the said body, the stitching however extends along one edge on both ends the other edge being open to receive the end of an absorbent pad 5 extending within the pocket, while the intermediate portion seats upon the body I by which means the said pad is easily removed and retained in its proper place.

Transversely crossing each outer end of the elastic end portions is a strip of cloth 6 attachable through the medium of hooks and eyes; the 2 said strips may be stitched to an appropriate wearing apparel at the discretion of the wearer and remain permanently therewith as attaching means for the catamenial bandages, the clastic features at each end thereof being means to permit longitudinal movement of the intermediate portion to insure comfort and to protect the under garments from being soiled or stained, and in View of the latter I have also arranged for certain conditions, a tape 1 secured to the lower edge of each flap to extend around the leg loosely engaging to avoid rolling of the edge portion or otherwise displacement thereof and furthermore a gusset 8 may be stitched in the flap as shown in Fig. 5 as means to conform to an excess fleshy condition; the said tape and gusset means are modifications to meet the requirement of certain conditions as above stated, and the elastic strands as shown may be substituted by an elastic woven fabric, the rubber strands of which are in close proximity. Such other modifications may be employed as lie within the scope of the appended claim. Having fully explained my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a catamenial bandage, a body portion h ing its opposite edges curved inward for a medial portion thereof, each end where it leaves the curved portion, the edges of which are in parallelism, being fulled and a plurality of elastic strands spaced apart and secured to the said end portions, and in parallelism with the longitudinal axis of the body, and a pocket secured to the body Where the curved portion joins each end portion as means to receive its respective end of an absorbent pad resting between the curved edges, a gusseted flap stitched to each curved edge, and means to secure the said body to the wearer thereof.

BESS ANDERSON. 

